Car-coupling link.



G..R. NICOLL.

GAR COUPLING LINK.

APPLICATION FILED 00130, 1911.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

PLANOGIAPM COuVAlHINQTON. D C.

GEORGE R. NICOLL, OF IBELLEVUE, PENNSYLVANIA,

CAR-COUPLING LINK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 30, 1911.

Patented Mar. 11,1913.

Serial No. 657,583.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. NICOLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bellevue, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Coupling Links, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a strong and reliable device for connecting cars together, which are operated in trains, and whereby shocks caused by the starting and stopping of the train are absorbed by the spring mechanism, which mechanism forms the connection between two cars or between a car and a motor.

A further object is the provision of such a device that is easily transferred from one car to another, thus obviating the expense of a spring at each end of the car in connection with the couplers.

A still further object is to provide a highly eflicient device which may be easily and inexpensively manufactured.

Vith these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views: Figure l is a plan view of the improved link, Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof, Fig. 3 is a side view of the device partially broken away, and Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the link.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the oppositely arranged cylindrical ends or heads E are provided with suitably projecting portions J adapted for connection with the draw bar of a car by means of a coupling pin passing through the alining openings K. Said attaching means for the heads of the present link may be of any desired form for accommodating its use in connection with the form of draw bar employed. Each head member E being formed similarly although oppositely-arranged receives therein the ends of two of the round draft rods B which are rigidly secured therein by flat transverse locking keys F. At the opposite free ends of the draft rods B, each of the same is provided with a substantially triangular shaped end member C which in posit-ion is adapted for movement inwardly and outwardly of correspondingly-shaped sockets G in the opposite head. Positione encircling all of the said rods B and normally positioning the parts as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, there is provided the helical spring A, the same being in contact with the end members C at each end of the spring as well as with the outer curved surfaces of substantially triangular shaped positioning members H upon the inner faces of the end members E at the base of each draft rod. In this position, it will be seen that the end members C act as followers for the spring when the spring is placed under tension, while the surfaces H act as followers for the spring when the same is under compression.

WVith a starting of the cars and the link positioned therebetween, a tension is exerted upon the rods B and the spring A will be compressed by the action of the ends C acting at opposite ends of the spring and thus the compression of the spring is adapted to absorb the shock caused by starting. When the cars are stopped, the surfaces H will be forced toward each other, compressing the spring and thus absorbing the shock due to stopping and in this action, the ends C slide in the recesses G.

While the forms of the invention herein shown and described are what are believed to be preferably embodiments thereof, it is nevertheless to be understood that mine: changes may be made in form, proportion or details of construct-ion without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

Having fully described my invention and in what manner the same is designed for use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1s:

A car coupling link comp-rising opposite cylindrical heads, two circular rods positioned in each head, flat transverse keys extending through said heads and rods, substantially triangular similar end member's positioned upon the free ends of said rods, each head provided at'its opposite sides with cut-away portions in alinement with and adapted to receive said end members and said end members slidably positioned therein, a helical spring encircling all of said rods and positioned between said heads and end members, substantially triangular spring-positioning members upon the inner sides of said heads and surrounding the bases .of said rods, and attaching means upon the outer ends of said heads.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this twentieth day of October, A. D. one thousand, nine hundred and eleven.

GEORGE R. NICOLL. \Vitnesses CLYDE J. MORGAN, JOHN A. IRWIN.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

